A few weeks ago, Matt Stoller had made the following suggestion over at one of my posts at MyDD:

Recent reports demonstrate just how little Homeland Security means to Republicans like George Bush and Robert Ehrlich.  Security at the Port of Baltimore is seriously under funded due to the $19.9 million cut in Homeland Security grants for the State of Maryland in President Bush's fiscal year 2006 budget.  Police patrols at the port are insufficient and many of the alarm systems and cameras are broken.  Even more frightening, U.S. Coast Guard units responsible for Baltimore are in shambles due to insignificant resources and aging, ineffective equipment.

The Port of Baltimore is a critical link in our nation's trade and transportation network and it is vital to our national security that it be protected.  Unfortunately, President Bush has failed to realize this and has put the safety of millions of Americans at risk.

I hope that President Bush will for once demonstrate some political courage and fire Karl Rove.  However, given the President's poor record of holding his cronies accountable for their actions we need to make sure that Rove cannot endanger our national security any more while he's on the job.  That's why we at the Maryland Democratic Party have created the petition below that calls upon John Negroponte and Joshua Bolten to rescind Karl Rove's security clearance.

Please click here to sign the petition and protect our national security from Karl Rove.

Thank you,
Terry Lierman
Chair, Maryland Democratic Party

A Reform Democrat from the diaries--Chris

Since my election as State Party Chair last December I have sought to revitalize the Maryland Democratic at every level all the way from the precinct level to the state headquarters.

We've made amazing progress over the past sixth months.  At the grassroots level, I have put over 15,000 miles on my car visiting Democratic clubs, Meetups, Young Democrats groups, DFA groups, and county central committees in all 23 counties and Baltimore City.  Right now, our staff is working with local groups to establish goals and strategic plans for all 24 jurisdictions in the state.  This is something that has not been done in this state in a very long time and its implementation is a critical part of our strategy to leave no county behind.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts was filled with excitement and Democratic pride at last night's "Paint the Nation Blue" DNC fundraiser. It was very exhilarating to see the museum packed with loyal and enthusiastic Democrats. They had good reason to be excited, the number of great Democratic leaders in attendance was incredible. The night started at 7:00 P.M. when I introduced House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer at the VIP reception. It was an especially great pleasure to introduce him because he is a representative of the great state of Maryland.

From the diaries. Also, check out this diary on Elrich's war on the poor--Chris

Governor Ehrlich has once again put petty politics ahead of the good of Maryland children.  Over the past three years Governor Ehrlich has already shown us that his commitment to education exists only in words, never in his actions.  Now Ehrlich has cut an important program that benefits some of the most at-risk children in our state.

This editorial from the Annapolis Capitol details just how low Governor Ehrlich will sink in playing partisan politics with our kids: